5 Bogra Swechchhasebak League men held

Police arrested five Swechchhasebak League men at Noymile area under Shajahanpur upazila of the district on charge of extortion.

The arrestees are Majhira Bandar Swechchhasebak League unit Secretary Hossain Sharif and activists Monir, 32, Manik Mia, 22, Masud, 25, Baset, 28, and Shamim, 25.

Police said the accused on Thursday demanded Tk 20 lakh from the manager of a shop dealing in construction materials and told him that they would come on Friday evening to take the amount.

Being informed by the manager, police took position near the shop at around 7:00pm and arrested the Swechchhasebak men when they arrived there to collect the money. Police also recovered four machetes, two knives and other lethal weapons from their possession.

Contacted, district Swechchhasebak League President Asadur Rahman Dulu said they have been supplying sand, bricks and brick-chips to the shop. When they went to get the money for the goods, some party rivals had them arrested on false charge.

Contacted, Alamgir Hossian, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shajahanpur Police Station, said the accused were extortionists.

Police produced the accused before a court yesterday, seeking remand for them. The court sent the accused to jail without giving decision on the remand prayer, added the OC.